Sydney Brenner of Roanoke is all smiles after her great August catch from her grandparents' pond in Chesterfield. The 9-year-old had nine bluegills and two largemouth bass.

Mark Taylor is outdoors editor at The Roanoke Times.

mark.taylor
@roanoke.com
981-3395

Mark Taylor

Outdoors coverage

• Notebook: Outer Banks beach-driving plan kicks up sand
• Outdoors commentary: Many Sunday hunting cons
• Winter tourneys invite fishermen out in the cold
• Visit our Outdoors page

The Wild Life blog

• I can focus on Sunday hunting negatives, too
• Big bass lure winter fishermen
• Ralph Barton takes a great late-season doe the hard way
• More from Mark's blog

Overview

Mike Burchett was surprised.

"This is going to be the last fishing report?" asked Burchett, an avid bass angler and owner of Rock House Marina at Claytor Lake. "But the fishing is just getting good again."

True. But this is the time of year when many recreational fishermen start putting away the tackle until next spring, so it's when the report also goes on its off-season break.

As for the fishing, many good days of action loom in the coming weeks.

Bass and striper action in big lakes should pick up as water temperatures continue to drop. The return of the trout-stocking season is on the near horizon, and saltwater fishing is moving into its most exciting season.

Even though the report is taking a break, fishing coverage in The Roanoke Times won't stop. Check out Friday's Outdoors page and the Outdoors columns on Tuesdays and Sundays for fishing news through the fall and winter.

Finally, a big thanks to anglers, guides, and tackle shop and marina owners who provided field reports this past season, whether fishing was great or poor.

Lakes

Water temperatures at Smith Mountain Lake are 74 degrees, reports Mike Snead at The Virginia Outdoorsman. Bait is already balled up and drawing attention from attacking bass and stripers, and the surface action should really take off when the temperatures hit 70 degrees. Crappie fishing is getting more attention as the fish move back toward shallower water, while catfish action remains steady.

Mike Burchett at Rock House Marina said the best bass fishing continues to come after dark. Pop-Rs and similar surface lures are taking some fish during the day, and daytime action should pick up as waters cool. Catfish action is slowing down, while crappie fishing is improving.

Larry Andrews at the Bait Place said he's not hearing about much fishing at Lake Moomaw except by bass anglers.

Streams

The New River remains low and clear both above and below Claytor Lake. Smallmouth bass action has been spotty. Bass found herding bait fish in shallows are pretty easy to catch. Otherwise, finesse tactics such as wacky-rigged Senkos are producing fairly well.

Minnow-imitating lures are also producing fair smallmouth action on the James River.

Trout stocking season gets going on Wednesday. Look for larger streams to get some fish during the first week or two.

Saltwater

Surfcasters have been finding good action for medium-sized red drum on the Outer Banks and on Virginia's Eastern Shore.